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Sylva, Dillsboro given grant funds by county commissioners
By Justin Goble
County leaders decided Dec. 19 to help with projects in Sylva and Dillsboro.
Commissioners unanimously voted to give each municipality $10,000 in grant money to aid with construction projects. In Sylva, the funds will pay for resurfacing of basketball courts and installation of a handicapped-accessible water fountain in Poteet Park. In Dillsboro, the money will go towards the continuing work at the Monteith farmstead, which is being renovated into a park.
At the end of each year, commissioners offer $20,000 in grant money to the municipalities in Jackson County. The goal of the funds is to aid with projects that benefit residents of the respective towns as well as the rest of the county. While numerous requests for grant funds were received, commissioners determined these two projects were best suited to receive funds.
“These were my top two choices,” Commissioner Roberta Crawford said.
In other business Dec. 19:
– Commissioners unanimously accepted a bid from Parker Excavating to improve the Staffed Recycling Center in Cashiers.
The bid the company placed was $213,707, which, according to county Manager Ken Westmoreland, was $35,000 more than the amount budgeted for the improvements. However, he advised commissioners to accept it and said he would find a place to make up the funds in the county’s solid waste budget.
– Commissioners passed a resolution to abandon a portion of Joe Fowler Road by a vote of 3-0.
Conrad Burrell abstained from voting because he is a member of the N.C. Board of Transportation, which oversees the state’s road system. He did say he supported the resolution, however.
Commissioner Eddie Madden left during the meeting to attend to a sick child.
A public hearing on the resolution was held before the meeting, but no one offered support or objection.
– After hearing a Dec. 5 appeal for money from Jackson County Arts Council President Ray Menze, commissioners granted the council $5,330 to match funds it had received from the state. Commissioner Joe Cowan said the council is doing a lot to support the county and it was time they received something in return.
“We haven’t done much for the arts council,” Cowan said. “I suggest we give them a shot in the arm. They do a lot of good work.”
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